Up From Slavery is an autobiography telling the life of Booker T. Washington, it showed the time period just after slavery was abolished and African Americans were trying to work their way up in Society and become apart of the everyday world. Washington's attitude was that if you want something to happen it will, "The individual who can do something that the world wants done will, in the end, make his way regardless of his race."
Technology played a very important role in this book. Booker T. Washington and his students built their own buildings for their school. "I had always supposed that brick making was very simple, but I soon found out by bitter experience that it required special skill and knowledge. . ." After many failed attempts at creating a kiln, and even though his spirits were down he never gave up. It was his goal to help other African Americans make money by working with their trade, and without his determination the school would never have made it as far as it did.
The book was set in a time where people's attitudes towards one another were different compared to today. Washington had to deal with racism and prejudice. Being in that time period he was used to being called certain names and being held lower than everyone else. "I let no man drag me down so low as to make me hate him." Even though he was discriminated he had a good attitude about life. But, today he would not be treated the way he was then. He changed words that were demoralizing and made them more acceptable. For example he changed the "N" word to Colored people.
Washington gave a positive outlook to how free slaves started with nothing and moved up. "No greater injury can be done to any youth than to let him feel that because he belongs to this or that race he will be advanced in life regardless of his own merits or efforts." His personal attitude was that colored people could make it in America as long as they were willing to work for it. "I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." After slavery colored people were very focused on getting an education. Washington opened a school that showed the students that not only education was important. He taught students that they had to be civilized, "No student is permitted to remain [at the school] who does not keep and use a tooth-brush." But, with being civilized he wanted them to have a certain skill in life so they could make it, "The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows, it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts." Washington made the students work for their education by learning and using that certain skill.
Washington in general gave a very positive outlook on life which made his book have a happy setting. He never gave up on anything and always pushed the people around him, and even people who weren't. "If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else"
Technology played a very important role in this book. Booker T. Washington and his students built their own buildings for their school. "I had always supposed that brick making was very simple, but I soon found out by bitter experience that it required special skill and knowledge. . ." After many failed attempts at creating a kiln, and even though his spirits were down he never gave up. It was his goal to help other African Americans make money by working with their trade, and without his determination the school would never have made it as far as it did.
The book was set in a time where people's attitudes towards one another were different compared to today. Washington had to deal with racism and prejudice. Being in that time period he was used to being called certain names and being held lower than everyone else. "I let no man drag me down so low as to make me hate him." Even though he was discriminated he had a good attitude about life. But, today he would not be treated the way he was then. He changed words that were demoralizing and made them more acceptable. For example he changed the "N" word to Colored people.
Washington gave a positive outlook to how free slaves started with nothing and moved up. "No greater injury can be done to any youth than to let him feel that because he belongs to this or that race he will be advanced in life regardless of his own merits or efforts." His personal attitude was that colored people could make it in America as long as they were willing to work for it. "I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." After slavery colored people were very focused on getting an education. Washington opened a school that showed the students that not only education was important. He taught students that they had to be civilized, "No student is permitted to remain [at the school] who does not keep and use a tooth-brush." But, with being civilized he wanted them to have a certain skill in life so they could make it, "The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows, it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts." Washington made the students work for their education by learning and using that certain skill.
Washington in general gave a very positive outlook on life which made his book have a happy setting. He never gave up on anything and always pushed the people around him, and even people who weren't. "If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else"